Hotels in Launceston to 1900
Cnr Charles & Brisbane Streets
1829 Gavin Hogg, White Conduit House, Charles Street
1830 Henry Davis, White Conduit House, Brisbane Street
1831 Henry Davis, White Conduit House, Charles Street
1832-34 Joseph Howell, White Conduit House, Charles Street
Launceston Advertiser, 1 February 1830
Launceston Advertiser, 5 April 1830
Corner of Brisbane & Wellington Streets.
1834 Oliver Adams, Bird in Hand, Wellington Street
1835 Henry Davis, Fountain Wine Vaults
Furlong owned a large block on the SW corner of Brisbane and Wellington St.
Launceston Advertiser, 2 January 1834
Brisbane St
1836-37 Henry Davis, Brisbane Hotel
In 1835, Henry Davis was advertising as being at the Fountain Wine Vaults, but at the bottom of that advertisement, he is seeking a “two-story commodious House, in a respectable part of Launceston suitable for a first-rate Hotel.”
Launceston Advertiser, 12 November 1835
Launceston Advertiser, 9 June 1836
Brisbane Street
(previously Robert Mailer had a licence for Spread Eagle at Norfolk Plains)
1831 Robert Mailer, Spread Eagle, Brisbane Street
1832 Robert Mailer, Spread Eagle, Brisbane Street
1832 Benjamin Hyrons, Spread Eagle, Brisbane Street
1833 Newton Lewyn, Spread Eagle, Brisbane Street
There is reference 1845 (see bottom of the page) of an application for the King’s Head, later Brisbane Hotel to be licensed as Spread Eagle. I don’t know if this is the same site as the 1830s house. There’s nothing else to suggest it is, but on the other head, the earliest I have for the King’s Head is 1835.
Launceston Advertiser, 28 September 1831
The Independent, 26 May 1832
Charles St
NE cnr Brisbane & George Streets
1824-26 Mr Alex Stewart, Rose and Thistle
1827-31 Alexander Stewart, Rose and Thistle, Charles Street
1834 Alexander Stewart, Rose and Thistle
1835 Andrew Dinell, Rose and Thistle
1836 John Moore
1836-37 George Fenton, Brisbane & George St
George St, with Brisbane St corner, 2016.
The Brisbane and George St location was later the Horse and Groom, then Verandah Wine Vaults for a short time, then Union Inn
On Wednesday last our worthy Magistrates, Messrs. Kenworthy, Gordon, and Simpson, went round to inspect the various public houses, and also those houses for which applications had been made to be allowed to retail spirituous liquors. At Alexander Stewart’s they found only one bed, that in which he and his wife sleep, the house is an old one, with two small front rooms, and one back room, there was not one single chair, and scarcely a table in this house, yet it was relicensed but he bows very obsequiously.
Launceston Advertiser, 28 September 1829
Launceston Advertiser, 24 November 1836
Launceston Advertiser, 2 November 1837
1823 Thomas Manning licensed to sell Beer only
1826 Thomas Manning, Jolly Sailor, Launceston
1827 Thomas Manning, Jolly Sailor, Brisbane-st
On Wednesday last our worthy Magistrates, Messrs. Kenworthy, Gordon, and Simpson, went round to inspect the various public houses, and also those houses for which applications had been made to be allowed to retail spirituous liquors. At Alexander Stewart’s they found only one bed, that in which he and his wife sleep, the house is an old one, with two small front rooms, and one back room, there was not one single chair, and scarcely a table in this house, yet it was relicensed but he bows very obsequiously. They also visited a house formerly kept by Mr. Thomas Manning, which house was refused a license last year, and Mr. T. C. Simpson was on the bench. This house has had no additional accommodation added to it, and yet a license was granted to it, it is an old house, contains three very small front rooms, and a back skilling, and was pronounced by P. A. Mulgrave, Esq. and Mr. Simpson a year back as not possessing sufficient accommodations.
Launceston Advertiser, 28 September 1829
SE cnr Brisbane & Wellington Streets. Google Maps, approximate location.
Demolished 1894
SE cnr Brisbane & Wellington Streets. (2015)
1826 George Burgess, Black Swan, Launceston
1827 George Burgess, Black Swan, Launceston
?-1831 Thomas Caryl, Black Swan (College Arms?), Launceston*
1831-34 Neil Campbell, Black Swan, Brisbane Street
1834 Adam Moore
1835-37 George Archer, Black Swan
1838 William Mason, Black Swan
1839 Thomas Dudley, Black Swan Wine Vaults, Brisbane & Wellington Streets
1840-42 Thomas Dudley, Black Swan, Wellington St/Brisbane St
1843-45 James Childs, Black Swan, Brisbane and Wellington streets
1846 License refused
Became Wilmot Arms
*1830 Thomas Caryl is listed as being granted a licence for the College Arms.
Photo of Wellington St, with Brisbane St intersection on the very right. The light coloured building on that corner is the Wilmot Arms (name is along the top), which is a facade around the older Black Swan. (Alternate link.)
From a lecture by Mr E. Whitfield. 1897:
In 1820 came the first public house, “The Black Swan,” kept by G. Burgess, corner of Brisbane and Wellington streets. Then came in 1823 the Launceston, the Plough Inn, kept by W. Field, where Hart and Sons are now, and the Hope and Anchor, kept by Nat. Lucas. The Launceston Hotel ,was built by Richard White, familiarly known as “Dicky White.”
Launceston Examiner, 6 February 1897
Extracts from Examiner story, “Colourful Old Hostelries”:
The first hotel in Launceston was the Black Swan, built in 1820, and kept by G. Burgess, an old whaler. It stood on the corner of Brisbane and Wellington streets and was after wards known as the Wilmot Arms before it was pulled down.
…
In Brisbane St. where the Enfleld (now McClymont’s), Cleary’s (now Tuck’s shop), Wilmot Arms (now a motor garage), Noah’s Ark (at corner of Margaret St.), Glenfield House, Barber’s Hotel (now Routley’s and the adjoining bank) and the Fire Brigade (now the Imperial).
Examiner, 12 March 1946
Colonial Times, 13 July 1827
170 Brisbane St. Google Maps.
Later Druids, Imperial, Billabong, Galaxy, Plough Inn
1859-1860 John Sullivan, Fire Brigade, Brisbane St
1860-78 William Burston, Fire Brigade, Brisbane St
1880-87 Michael Lawler, Wilmot Arms, Brisbane Street
1887-88 Edward Bonser, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1888 Mary Jane Bruff, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1889-91 John Black, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1891 Emily Black, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1891-94 William Inall, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1894 Mary Jane Inall, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1895-99 James West, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
1900 Amelia West, Fire Brigade Hotel, Brisbane Street
Photo, as Billabong Hotel, 1992
Fire Brigade Hotel— Our advertising column announce that Mr John Sullivan, our worthy host of Launceston and George Town celebrity, has established himself in those substantial brick premises in Brisbane Street, opposite Mr. J. Monks’ painting and glaring establishment, which he will conduct under the sign of the ‘Fire Brigade Hotel.’ It is only necessary to be made known that Mr Sullivan has become the proprietor of this Hostelries to ensure for him the patronage he has so deservedly enjoyed, and for which he is so justly appreciated Always appreciated as a man of enterprise, Mr. Sullivan is sure to be encouraged by the general public in this, his present appearance in this his former occupation in Launceston.
Cornwall Chronicle, 31 December 1859
Cornwall Chronicle, 19 May 1860
43 Brisbane St. Google Maps.
The Courier, 31 May 1858
